Hen&#39;s nest.



9 9 mm 7 .Z 7 e n u I. d B t n e t a P m 0 e D L 0 H c N N L I 5 .l 2 6 m N R. E. NICHOLS, Administratrix.

H E N S N E ST.

{Application filed. June. 6, 1898.)

Tu: NORRIS PETERS on. PwuTo-uwm wAsnmcron. u. c,

tilation.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

RACHEL E. NICHOLS, OF FINDLAY, OHIO, ADMINISTRATRIX OF LE\VIS N.

NIciIoLs, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR or Two-THIRDS TO cLARK KETCH or FOSTORIA, AND ROBERT A. WEIR, or RISING SUN, oHIo.

HENS NEST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iatent 0. 627,652, dated June 27, 1899. Application filed June 6,1898. Serial No. 682,731. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LEWIS N. NICHOLS, late 'a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Hens Nests, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany-- part of this specificaspective view of the tilting nest and platform.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view indicated by the line VI VI of Fig. 3.

The'invention consists of an improvement in hens nests, and is designed for the purpose of isolating a setting or laying hen from the intrusion of other fowls while on the nest.

It consists of an outer inclosing box or Shield provided with an opening for entrance and exit and a pivotally-supported'nest-box and platform withih such box, with means for automatically opening and closing the opening, as will be described.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is an inclosing box of any appropriate shape, but preferably rectangular, and provided with a cover 3,

which may consist of slats, wire-netting, or.

other construction adapted to give good ven- Within the box, resting on a crossbar 4, which forms its pivotal support, is the nest-box 5, having atthe fronta platform extension 6, the nest proper being contained within the vertical walls 7, the front one of which is somewhat lower than theother three As shown in planview in Fig. 4, it will be seen that the nest-box and its platform occupy substantially the entire cross-sectional internal area of the box 2, with a slight surrounding spacefor clearance, so as to admit of easy limited motion'upon' the pivotal support 4.. At one side of the box, adjacent to the end, is an opening 8 of sufficient size to permit the passage of a fowl, and the platform (3 extends outwardly opposite such opening and substantially on a level with the bottom of the opening when the nest is unoccupied, as shown in Fig. 2. Pivotally connected to the inner face of the box at 9 9 are the supporting-bars 10, also pivotally attached at 11 11 to the bottom of a swinging door-frame 12, across the face of which is stretched Wire-netting or slats to provide for ventilation and light, and at the top the door-frame is provided with a guideplate 13, between which andthe door-frame pass the supporting-bars 10. As thus suspended from two points the door is free to swing on the pivots 9 and will always maintain a level position at any point. It is designed that this door shall remain open when the nest is unoccupied and close by the weight of the fowl upon entering the nest, and for this purpose a connecting-rod 14 is pivotally 4 attached to theback of thenest-box at 15 and to an extension 16 of the adjacent one of the bars 10 at 17, which bar thus constitutes a lever and acts to move the door open or shut when actuated by the rod 14. In this manner it will be seen that when the fowl leaves the nest and steps upon the platform 6 it will be gently tilted downwardly, and the door will be thrown back, as shown in Fig. 2, leavin g the opening 8 uncovered for passage. is desired for the purpose of retaining the door in such'open position that the platform should remain down and the nest tilted up until the fowl reenters the nest, and for this purpose the platform is made s'lightlyheavier than the nest, so as to'overbalance it when unoccupied, and such weighting of the platformmay be provided for by the attachment of weights, as plates 18, supported in slides 19 or otherwise, whereby the weight of the platform may be graduated to suit fowls of varying sizeand weight.

Forward and backward motion of the gate and motion-of the best are controlled'by the guide-plate 20, between which andthe inner face of the box v2 the bars 10 are inclosed, the guide-plate 20 being provided With'shoulders at each end, against which the bars strike at each end of-movement.

When-thus constructed, the device constitutes a nest that is particularly adapted to the purposes in view and within which a setting or laying fowl may perform her functions without interruption or intrusion, While being free to leave or reenter the nest at will, in the manner described.

The ad vantages of such a nest will be appreciated by those familiar with their use, inasmuch as it is very simple and eflioient, occupies a limited space, and is inexpensive in construction and not liable to get out of order.

Having described the invention, What is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hens nest, an inclosing box provided with an entrance and exit opening, a pivotally-supported tilting nest provided with a platform projecting opposite to such opening, a laterally-swinging door suspended by rods pivoted to the inner wall of the box adapted to move in a plane parallel with the face of the opening to cover or uncover such opening, and a connecting-rod attached to the tilting nest and to one of the door-supporting rods, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hens nest, an inclosing box provided with an opening, a pivotally-supported tilting nest provided with a Weighted platform projecting opposite to such opening, a laterally-swinging door suspended by rods pivoted to the inner wall of the box, and a connecting-rod attached to the tilting nest and to one of the door-supporting rods, substantially as set forth.

3. In a hens nest, an inclosing box provided with an opening, a pivotally-s11pportcd lilting nest provided with a weighted platform projecting opposite to such opening, a laterally-swinging screen-door suspended by rods pivoted to the inner wall of the box and a connecting-rod attached to the tilting nest and to one of the door-supporting rods, substantially as set forth.

4. In a hens nest pivotally mounted within an inclosing box having an entrance-opening and a laterally-swim gin g door adapted to close such opening, actuated by movement of the nest; a platform projecting from the nest opposite the opening and provided with adj ust able Weights secured underneath its bottom, substantially as set forth.

5. In a hens nest, the combination-of an inclosing box provided with an opening, a pivotally -supported tilting nest mounted therein provided With a platform projecting opposite to such opening and having adjustable eounterweights secured to its bottom, a laterally-swinging screen-door suspended by supporting-rods pivoted to the inner wall of the box and a connecting-rod attached to the tilting nest and to one of the door-supporting rods whereby the door is opened and closed by movement of the nest, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 1

RACHEL E. NICHOLS, Adminish'atrim of estate of Lewis N. Nichols,

deceased.

In presence of NORA SAMPSON,

W. I. SAMPSON. 

